With the situation thus diplomatically explained Mrs. Berry brightened, restored her handkerchief to her pocket--in the '70's ladies' gowns had pockets--and announced that she was sure that she and the captain would get on charmingly together. "And, after all, Captain Kendrick," she gushed, "a man's advice is so often _so_ necessary in business, you know, and all that. Just as a woman's advice helps a man at times. Why, Captain Berry--my dear husband--used to say that without my advice he would have been absolutely at sea, yes, absolutely." According to Bayport gossip, as related by Judah, Captain Isaac Berry had been, literally, during the latter part of his life, absolutely at sea as much as he possibly could. "And mighty thankful to be there, too," so Mr. Cahoon was wont to add. Elizabeth heard a portion of Sears interview with her mother, but she made no comment upon it, to him at least. When he announced his intention of interviewing Miss Snowden, however, she was greatly surprised and said so. "You want to speak with Elvira, Cap'n Kendrick?" she repeated. "You do, really? Do you--of course I am not interfering, please don't think I am--but do you think it a--a wise thing to do, just now?" The captain nodded. "Why, yes, I do," he said. "Oh, it's all right, Miss Elizabeth, I'm not goin' to start any rows. You wouldn't think it to look at me, probably, but I've got an idea in my head and I'm goin' to try it out on this Elvira." It was some time before he was able to catch Miss Snowden alone, but at last he did and, as it happened, in that same summer-house, the Eyrie, where he had first seen her. The interview began, on her part, as frostily as a February morning in Greenland, but ended like a balmy evening in Florida. The day following he laid his plans to meet and speak with Mrs. Brackett and the militant Susanna thereafter became as peaceful, so far as he was concerned, as a dovecote in spring. Elizabeth Berry, noticing these changes, and surmising their cause, regarded him with something like awe. "Really, Cap'n Kendrick," she said, "I'm beginning to be a little afraid of you. When you first spoke of interviewing Elvira Snowden alone I--well, I was strongly tempted to send for the constable. I didn't know what might happen. She was saying--so Esther Tidditt told me--the most dreadful things about you and I was frightened for your safety. And Mrs. Brackett was just as savage. And now--why, Elvira this very morning told me, herself, that she considered your taking the management here a blessing. I believe she did call it a blessing in disguise, but that doesn't make any real difference. And Susanna--three days ago--was calling upon all our--guests here to threaten to leave in a body, as a protest against the giving over of the management of their own Harbor to a--excuse me--man like you. I don't know she meant by that, but it is what she said. And now----"